Massey's lawyers filed a motion Thursday requesting permission to visit him immediately. They said that they understood Massey had been attacked and moved to another location.

Massey was assigned to serve his 65-month sentence at Maxwell Federal Prison Camp in Montgomery, which is near his family.

"It has been brought to the undersigned's attention that Massey recently suffered an attack at this location and has been moved to another facility," his lawyers wrote.

His lawyers said on Thursday they had been unable to visit him or ascertain his medical condition.

Massey's attorneys, Joe Basgier and Brett Bloomston, told the Associated Press that Massey was seriously injured in the attack, but they have limited information so they want to see their client.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons indicated today that Massey was being housed at the Federal Correctional Institution in Talladega, about 50 miles outside Birmingham. Massey was moved from Montgomery to Talladega on Dec. 2, according to a Bureau of Prisons spokesman.

Massey and Country Crossing casino developer Ronnie Gilley pleaded guilty to offering bribes, largely in the form of campaign cash, to Alabama lawmakers to try to get them to vote for gambling legislation.